A Smart Thermostat

Maybe your dad is a stereotypical sitcom dad who’s obsessed with controlling the thermostat. Well, with a smart thermostat, he can control the temperature from his phone. In fact, a smart thermostat will start learning your dad’s schedule and start anticipating his changes. Smart thermostats are also very good at lowering heating and cooling bills. There are lots of different smart thermostats out there, from brands like Nest, Ecobee, and Honeywell. Expect to pay between $100 and $250. Important note: the government offers some rebates for stuff like this. Check saveonenergy.cafor more.

iRobot Braava jet 240 Mopping Robot

Mopping is tedious, so let’s automate it. This mopping robot will automatically mop floors while avoiding furniture, rugs, and stairs. It sprays fluid to get rid of dirt and stains while its vibrating cleaning head scrubs. It’s pretty small and compact so it can reach places like behind the toilet. And you can use it to wet mop, dry mop, or sweep. We also imagine it will soon star in YouTube videos where it will freak out dogs and small children. Retails for around $270 at various electronics stores.

A Dash Cam

A dash cam is a little camera you mount to a dashboard. It records everything while the car is in motion. It can record stuff like speed, motion, driver behaviour, and more, but the real reason to get one is to prove who’s at fault in an accident. Or if your dad sees something funny happen on the road he can upload the video to YouTube. There are lots available, with everything from little one-way models to nine-camera setups to cover every possible angle. Expect to spend between $50 and $200.

Netatmo Weather Station

If you have the kind of dad who has a rain gage mounted to the side of his shed, he might be interested in a Netmo weather station. It can measure temperature, humidity, air quality, and barometric pressure. It delivers the data to an app and generates a weather forecast. It comes with an indoor module, which measures temperature, humidity, air quality, CO2, and sound. The whole thing can be had for $179.99. Oh, and they also sell a rain gage for $99.99.

Cord Cutting Help

Maybe your dad likes saving money, little household projects, or binge watching Friday Night Lights. In that case, help him cut the cord. You can buy him an OTT device, help him set up an HD Antenna, or sign him up for a streaming service. We have a guide to cutting the cord in Canada, which you can read here.